Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok.
Maybe not the right wing lineup that some expect from the Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL playoffs, but head coach Craig Berube rolled it out for the first time on Monday. A month ago, the vexed Robertson was stuck on eight goals and Jarnkrok was just getting into serious practice three months into recovery from a sports hernia procedure. A trade for depth or internal shuffle seemed inevitable.
But the Leafs had won eight of their past nine before Monday, with third-line success in goals at last with Max Domi centring Robertson and big winger Bobby McMann. Now Jarnkrok has returned and if there’s no good deal to be had by Friday, general manager Brad Treliving can use the deadline axiom that getting an injured player back in March can be as good as a trade.
Jarnkrok, also a centre and perhaps in Domi’s role if the latter is needed somewhere on the left, was in the starting five against the Sharks, his long awaited 700th NHL game and played more tham seven minutes. After some solid forechecking efforts, the group was burned on Tyler Toffoli’s tying goal in the third period, but Jarnkrok also had two chances at the winner, including being entrusted on the final regulation shift.
Treliving has been known as a busy body by his peers, keen to get an ear in on any big deal going around the circuit. But in his final pre-deadline chat with local media, he indicated no interest to enter a shrinking, inflated market with Toronto already minus its first round pick this year and trying to hold top prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten.
The March market had come in like a lion, the first of the month seeing the Florida Panthers acquire defenceman Seth Jones from Chicago. The Cats will also need to look at options without injured Matthew Tkachuk until at least playoff time.
Minnesot picked up forward Gustav Nyquist from the fading Predators for a second-round pick next year, Colorado also girded for playoffs in the West, bringing in forward Jimmy Vesey and defencemen Ryan Lindgren and Hank Kempf from the Rangers for blueliner Calvin de Haan, forward Juuso Parssinen and conditional second and fourth-round picks. The Rangers have also held veteran right winger Reilly Smith out of the past couple of games and while Pittsburgh will likely move bodies, none are named Crosby, Malkin or Letang
Things have been quiet since the weekend — almost too quiet. Anaheim goalie John Gibson is seen as an insurance piece for a contender, while talk of centre Brayden Schenn coming to the Leafs from St. Louis to rejoin his 2019 Cup coach Berube, or going anywhere else, has been muted as the Blues have won four of their past five with three games before the deadline. Scott Laughton’s long discussed exit from Philadelphia might also be pre-empted after the Flyers got on a mini-streak.
That’s why Jarnkrok’s first couple of games will be important for the Leafs. Under previous coach Sheldon Keefe, he was given top six ice time when needed, but until now, Berube would know him best from Jarnkrok’s Nashville days in the Blues’ division.
MACK UNDER ATTACK
Macklin Celebrini is trying to adapt to a difficult situation, a top-notch rookie on the NHL’s bottom team.
This might be the worst stretch of the season for the top pick in the 2024 draft, on a long Eastern road trip that’s been part of an eight-game winless streak before Monday. San Jose must endure watching most of the league either in the playoffs or in the hunt.
“No one likes losing and we’re obviously in a tough spot right now,” the 18-year-old centre said after morning skate. “We’re trying to stay positive. There are different goals as a team we are pushing for. We’re building for the future and never accepting the losing.”
The B.C. native had 12 points the past 14 games and is battling Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov and Montreal defenceman Lane Hutson atop the rookie leaderboard, all within a couple of points for Calder Trophy contention with Celebrini playing 10 fewer games than both.
“I think he’s handled everything really well,” coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Everything thrown at him, from player (match-ups) to media, the schedule, the grind (he was a game-time decision) and our situation. He’s a mature kid so I don’t think any moment is (too) big for him.”
Warsofsky, in his first NHL head coaching post, is trying to help not only Celebrini, but Will Smith and a number of youngsters.
“We have a lot to play for individually and as a group. The last two years, we were embarrassed, it wasn’t good enough. We know what our record is at, but we have to approach it like we’re in playoff mode.”
Warsofsky said Celebrini needed only look across the ice to Maple Leafs such as Auston Matthews, Marner and William Nylander, first round picks with great careers who are still paying their dues to win a title.
“You have to go through some failure, some adversity. I look back at Mack and Will in their situation and think it’s not going to happen overnight. That’s the evolution of being a superstar.”
TIME FOR TIM
Former Maple Leafs defenceman Timothy Liljegren made his first appearance at Scotiabank Arena since the October trade to the Sharks for blueliner Matt Benning, who has remained with the farm team Marlies, and a couple of draft picks.
“He’s a guy that can move pucks and can help on our power play (getting a goal Saturday in Ottawa),” Warsofsky said. “He’s playing some of his best hockey right now.”
“He’s still a younger guy (turning 26 next month) trying to figure out what his identity is and do it more consistently, which you guys in Toronto have probably seen. Our situation is a lot different than the Leafs. He’s got a chance to really establish himself as a top four guy who can play meaningful minutes.”
MARLIES GET A REST
After getting just six goals in five games, four of them losses, the Marlies have a few days off. They emerged with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Manitoba Moose on Saturday, with Ryan Tverberg scoring in regulation, then Nick Abruzzese and Logan Shaw in the shootout. The farm team has an AHL-high six shootout losses this season.
Clearly the club misses league-leading scorer Alex Steeves, who was returned Monday to coincide with the activation of Jarnkrok.
“We didn’t score too many goals, but just to get the two points was refreshing,” Marlies coach John Gruden said as his team stays in a battle for third place in its division.
Dennis Hildeby made 30 stops to bring his save percentage up to .900. He could be a trade chip for Treliving later this week.
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